Doom Metal

Pentagram is an American heavy metal band from Alexandria, Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of doom metal. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s.

Hooded Menace was formed by Lasse (also known from the cult Finnish death metal band Phlegethon) in the summer of 2007. Very much influenced by the first Cathedral album, Winter, and Asphyx the band started to play really doom-laden death metal that combined crushing and somber riffs with a hint of melody that comes from their love for the early Candlemass albums from the 80's. Hooded Menace will be making their second Maryland Deathfest appearance in 2014.

Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed in Stockholm in 2008. Ghost are easily recognizable due to their eccentric on-stage presence (five of the group's six members wear dark hooded robes, while the vocalist appears in a skull mask and a cardinal outfit), heavily Satanic-based lyrics, and highly secretive nature of their identities, with the members being referred to as "Nameless Ghouls".

Cathedral are a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group forged a link between early doom metal and a 1990s extreme metal aesthetic, making doom slower and heavier. Their debut album, Forest of Equilibrium, is considered a classic of the genre. They later on changed their doom style, playing it in a more uptempo and groove-oriented fashion.

Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore/punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music.

Noothgrush is a sludge/doom metal band from Oakland, CA. The band name is a reference to the Dr. Seuss book "There's A Wocket In My Pocket", 1974, where a "noothgrush" appears annoyingly on the main character's toothbrush. Noothgrush will be performing at Maryland Deathfest for the second time in 2014/